Ginseng Facts

American ginseng is regulated at the state and federal level to ensure legal and sustainable harvest.

Harvest kills the American ginseng plant. Therefore, harvesting plants that are too young, before fruits are ripe or harvesting too many plants, could wipe out wild American ginseng and lead to the collapse of this multi-million dollar industry.

Protected areas where harvest of ginseng is not allowed, such as national parks, help to safeguard ginseng into the future. Poaching ginseng from these protected lands is harmful to the long-term survival of the species.

Permits must be obtained from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to export wild American ginseng from the United States.

States regulate the harvest, inspection and certification of wild-harvested ginseng roots.